Following the signing ceremony for the presidential order establishing the White House Task Force on the 2028 Summer Olympics, President Trump (as is his wont) took questions from the media. What followed was a free-wheeling question-and-answer session covering a variety of topics. Here are some highlights.
First, the president took a question about Israeli hostage Evyatar David, and the Hamas footage of him being forced to dig his own grave:
Question: Have you seen the Hamas-released video of Israeli hostage Evyatar David starving and being forced to dig his own grave in a Hamas tunnel?
President Trump: I have. Have you? I have. I think it's horrible. I think it's horrible. And I hope a lot of people do get to see it, as bad as it is, because I think it's a horrible thing.
"Horrible" is, if anything, an understatement. This video, like so many others Hamas has released, just points up that group's utter inhumanity. And they are bragging about their treatment of Evyatar David, just as they bragged about their acts on October 7, 2023.
The next question was on domestic politics, specifically, Texas Democrats fleeing the Lone Star State to avoid a redistricting vote; President Trump did not rule out calling on the FBI:
POTUS: Well, I think they've abandoned the state. Nobody's seen anything like it, even though they've done it twice before. And, in a certain way, it almost looks like they've abandoned the state, it looks very bad. (Pointing) Yeah, go ahead, please.
Question: Should the FBI get involved?
POTUS: Well, they may have to. They may have to. I know they want them back. Not only the Attorney General, the Governor wants them back. I mean, the Governor of Texas is demanding they come back. So a lot of people are demanding they come back. You can't just sit it out. You have to go back, you have to fight it out. That's what elections are all about.
It's not at all clear if the FBI may be legally involved; this is primarily Texas's issue.
But for my money (hah), the real question came up on the topic of tariff revenue and the national debt.
POTUS: You know, one of the questions asked of me this morning is, are you going to make a dividend to the people? And the purpose of what I'm doing is primarily to pay down debt, which will happen, in very large quantity. But I think there's also a possibility that we're taking in so much money, that we may very well make a dividend to the people of America.
There are 37 trillion good reasons to put any such revenues squarely on the national debt.
Read More: Watch: CNBC Tries to Fact-Check Trump on Live TV, and Host Ends Up With Egg on His Face
The future of the republic doesn't depend on Americans getting dividend checks, even if you argue that the United States operating in the black is a good reason to do so. For one thing, we're not in the black yet; for another, fiscal responsibility should preclude any such dividends until that national debt is, at the very least, reversed and on its way down.
But, giving people money is always good for votes, and the midterms are coming up, so there are plenty in Congress who may well push for just such a scheme.
Here's a better idea: Get rid of the capital-gains tax. Want to see business investments soar? That would be a good start.
Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
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